The home of Suesca, Colombia

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Photo archive

The 96 photographs of the original suesca.com — from the 2003 Fundación Rocas de Suesca portal to the 2013 era — recovered from the web archive and arranged as they were published: the Rocks and the climbing first, the people who made the park, the high-mountain expeditions, and the techniques and gear people climbed with then.

The Rocks and the Virgin· 12 photos

The Virgin on her ledge, seen from the meadow at the entrance to the Rocks — The Virgin on her ledge, seen from the meadow at the entrance to the Rocks.

The sandstone wall of the Rocks, with a climber halfway up — The sandstone wall of the Rocks, with a climber halfway up.

The whole band of the Rocks seen from the valley — The whole band of the Rocks seen from the valley.

The Bogotá River valley and the Rocks from above — The Bogotá River valley and the Rocks from above.

The way in: the rail line and the footpath between fences — The way in: the rail line and the footpath between fences.

The Suesca savanna from the Rocks — The Suesca savanna from the Rocks.

View from the top of the wall towards the valley — View from the top of the wall towards the valley.

The Virgin on her ledge, from the meadow — The Virgin on her ledge beneath the natural roof, from the meadow.

The railway beside the Rocas — The railway beside the Rocas: the way in, as always.

The Rocas cliff in full sun — The cliff in full sun, above the vegetation at its base.

The cliff band from the meadow path — The cliff band and the Virgin from the meadow path.

The Suesca valley and town from above — The Suesca valley from above: the town among the trees.

Climbing at the Rocks· 34 photos

Climbers on the sandstone slabs, Suesca's classic climbing — Climbers on the sandstone slabs, Suesca's classic climbing.

Under one of the wall's great roofs — Under one of the wall's great roofs.

The red rock formations of the upper sector — The red rock formations of the upper sector.

Home sandstone: a technical slab at the Rocks — Home sandstone: a technical slab at the Rocks.

From the wall: the valley and the rail line, below — From the wall: the valley and the rail line, below.

A perfect crack: traditional climbing at the Rocks — A perfect crack: traditional climbing at the Rocks.

Another classic crack on the band — Another classic crack on the band.

On the orange wall, the roofs sector — On the orange wall, the roofs sector.

Climbing among the red formations — Climbing among the red formations.

On the pale wall, with the rope below — On the pale wall, with the rope below.

Slabs and dihedrals by the big tree — Slabs and dihedrals by the big tree.

Bouldering: the overhanging roof of the boulder sector — Bouldering: the overhanging roof of the boulder sector.

Bouldering at the Rocks, with crash pad — Bouldering at the Rocks, with crash pad.

The lone pillar, bouldering area — The lone pillar, bouldering area.

Under the cave, bouldering sector — Under the cave, bouldering sector.

Two climbers on the grey wall — Two climbers on the grey wall.

The rope over the slab, seen from above — The rope over the slab, seen from above.

Belaying with the valley behind — Belaying with the valley behind.

At the top of the route, the valley behind — At the top of the route, the valley behind.

A climber on one of the band's tall walls — A climber on one of the band's tall walls.

On the wall, with the savanna behind — On the wall, with the savanna behind.

White slab, footwork climbing — White slab, footwork climbing.

On the golden wall of the Rocks — On the golden wall of the Rocks.

Slab and crack detail — Slab and crack detail.

The big roof of the bouldering sector — The big roof of the bouldering sector.

Two climbers on the orange wall — Two climbers on the orange wall.

The roof with the valley behind: a Suesca postcard — The roof with the valley behind: a Suesca postcard.

Silhouette on the ridge, at the end of the day — Silhouette on the ridge, at the end of the day.

Wide crack, traditional climbing — Wide crack, traditional climbing.

Back to the camera, arms up on the red rock — Back to the camera, arms up on the red rock.

The orange crack — The orange crack.

Pale slab, almost featureless — Pale slab, almost featureless.

Overhanging boulder from above — An overhanging boulder seen from above, crash pad below.

Climber at the top of the dark slab — The rope runs up the dark slab to the climber at the top.

The people and the rail line· 8 photos

On the rail line, the way to the Rocks as always — On the rail line, the way to the Rocks as always.

Helmet in hand by the rail line — Helmet in hand by the rail line.

Belaying, eyes on his partner — Belaying, eyes on his partner.

Portrait in the village, a coloured wall — Portrait in the village, a coloured wall.

At the foot of the wall, ready to climb — At the foot of the wall, ready to climb.

Rope over his shoulder, at the foot of the route — Rope over his shoulder, at the foot of the route.

Orson, the dog who went along with every climber — part of the park's culture, the site said in 2003 — Orson, the dog who went along with every climber — part of the park's culture, the site said in 2003.

A village shop in Suesca — A village shop, from the years of the original site.

High mountains: El Cocuy and beyond· 23 photos

The great snow wall, Colombian high mountains — The great snow wall, Colombian high mountains.

Snowy summit under a blue sky — Snowy summit under a blue sky.

The rock needle among glaciers — The rock needle among glaciers.

The rock towers of the high mountains — The rock towers of the high mountains.

Rappel on a high mountain wall — Rappel on a high mountain wall.

Dihedral with rope on high mountain rock — Dihedral with rope on high mountain rock.

Climber on the grey slab, alpine setting — Climber on the grey slab, alpine setting.

Silhouette on the snowy ridge — Silhouette on the snowy ridge.

Ice climbing — Ice climbing.

Snowy peaks at dusk — Snowy peaks at dusk.

The snowy range — The snowy range.

Rock and snow in the high mountains — Rock and snow in the high mountains.

Moraine and glacier — Moraine and glacier.

Glacial lake — Glacial lake.

The snow at sunset — The snow at sunset.

Expedition in El Cocuy: porters and gear (from the 2004 document) — Expedition in El Cocuy: porters and gear (from the 2004 document).

El Ritacuba at sunset (2004 document) — El Ritacuba at sunset (2004 document).

The rock pulpit above the glacier (2004 document) — The rock pulpit above the glacier (2004 document).

Summit in El Cocuy, with the flag (2004 document) — Summit in El Cocuy, with the flag (2004 document).

Self-portrait in the snow (2004 document) — Self-portrait in the snow (2004 document).

March on the glacier in the fog (2004 document) — March on the glacier in the fog (2004 document).

Mountaineer on the snowy summit — On the snowy summit, the glaciated range behind.

Highland crags in late light — Late light on the highland crags.

Technique and gear of the era· 16 photos

How to place a friend: the original site's diagram — How to place a friend: the original site's diagram.

Placing friends, step by step — Placing friends, step by step.

Nut in a crack, close up — Nut in a crack, close up.

Traditional protection at the Rocks — Traditional protection at the Rocks.

Detail of a crack placement — Detail of a crack placement.

Anchor in a crack, with karabiner — Anchor in a crack, with karabiner.

The climber's basic knots, from the site's guide — The climber's basic knots, from the site's guide.

Climbing shoes of the era, on the rock — Climbing shoes of the era, on the rock.

Mountain boots from the site's shop — Mountain boots from the site's shop.

Boots of the era, ready for the rock — Boots of the era, ready for the rock.

Red and blue climbing shoes, the classic ad — Red and blue climbing shoes, the classic ad.

The helmet, an essential piece of kit — The helmet, an essential piece of kit.

Belaying with the device of the time — Belaying with the device of the time.

Hands on the belay, detail — Hands on the belay, detail.

Cam placed in the crack — A purple cam placed in the crack, up close.

Harness and tie-in knot — Harness and tie-in knot, before setting off.

Other sports· 3 photos

Mountain biking at full speed — Mountain biking at full speed.

Mountain bike in the woods — Mountain bike in the woods.

The bicycle from the site's shop — The bicycle from the site's shop.